The £12 million Newcastle United player was ‘distracted’ by shocking transfer rumors against Brighton.
Newcastle United were rumored to be interested in Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris on the eve of the transfer deadline.
Former Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer shared his thoughts on Nick Pope’s “uncharacteristic” performance against Brighton and Hove Albion.
Newcastle United were defeated 3-1 at the Amex Stadium on Saturday evening, with Pope assisting the first of Evan Ferguson’s three goals.
After a weak clearing was picked up by Pervis Estupinan, the former Burnley player redeemed himself by denying Kaoru Mitoma from a tight angle. Pope, on the other hand, could only parry Billy Gilmour’s second effort into Ferguson’s path, where he netted from close range.
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Ferguson beat Pope again from long range before the Republic of Ireland international completed his hat-trick with a shot deflected in off Magpies’ central defender Fabian Schar.
When asked about the 31-year-old’s performance, Schwarzer had an odd take.
On transfer deadline day, Newcastle was connected with a surprise late move for Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, and while the club dismissed the reports, Schwarzer believes it influenced Pope.
“Perhaps the talk of Hugo Lloris potentially joining Newcastle was in his head a little bit.” “A performance like that was uncharacteristic of Pope,” the Australian told Optus Sport.
“I’ll go back to what Eddie Howe said in the first game about ‘we could dream,’ but that’s turned into a nightmare.” They lost the following three games. So, if these results continue, is Eddie Howe a victim of his own success?
“Because the expectation now is that Newcastle will go to places like Brighton and win.”
Pope was part of the Premier League’s joint-best defense last season after joining from Burnley for £12 million, despite maintaining just one clean sheet in 15 games.
